Ask Asa: How 'nutrition labels' help you get better high-speed internet deals
Everyone wants 'high-speed internet.' But what are we buying, what will it cost — and is the package the provider wants you to buy the best for you? We Ask Asa.
Everyone wants 'high-speed internet.' But what are we buying, what will it cost — and is the package the provider wants you to buy the best for you? We Ask Asa.
Everyone wants 'high-speed internet.' But what are we buying, what will it cost — and is the package the provider wants you to buy the best for you? We Ask Asa.
Have you ever signed up for broadband at a reasonable rate only to be surprised later by a much higher bill? Well, that's about to change.
The FCC has done for broadband what the FDA did for food years ago: Simplified the labeling.
The Federal Communications Commission modeled the new Nutrition Labels for Broadband after the now-famous Food and Drug Administration labels for food. In this case, the contents should help us cook up an appetizing dish called money ala savings. I'll have mine well done, please.
Nutrition labels help consumers identify foods high in vitamins and minerals yet low in fats and calories. The new broadband labels mirror the concept, providing a standardized way for internet service providers to explain speed, data caps, and pricing.
Verizon spokesperson Parker Branton says the FCC wants to give consumers more transparency. Regulators "were tired of seeing folks shopping for Internet, get one bill in the store, and a couple of months later, have that bill become something completely different," he said.
The label starts with the maximum amount you'll pay for the selected plan. After that, it lists information about speed and other critical service aspects, helping consumers to understand and compare internet offerings without confusion.
If you're a heavy gamer, a graphic designer, a videographer, or stream content on multiple devices simultaneously, you may need lots of bandwidth. On the other hand, if you use the internet mainly for email and occasional online shopping, you can spend less.
You'll be able to compare the same terms for cost, speed, latency—which affects how your service performs—and other factors from one provider to another with greater ease and make a more informed decision—apples to apples.
"Verizon can call its plan one thing, and another wireless provider can call it something else," Branton said. "The customer doesn't know what those names mean. But now, it will give everyone a uniform way to look at it, and it will be the same across all providers."
There is one thing you won't find in that bushel of apples. The label doesn't discuss reliability—a more subjective measure you'll have to bite on your own.
"We lean into that reliability, as that's something that they want to keep in mind, as well as how well that internet service will work for them in the long run," Branton said.
Major service providers started displaying the labels this month. All providers, even the smaller ones, should comply by October 10.
Whether it's a question about broadband access or any consumer issue, email me at asa@askasa.com.
